Arizona redistrict commission critique mixed

GOP leader wants restart, Dem hails work

by Ginger Rough - Dec. 7, 2011 09:37 PMThe Arizona Republic

State Republican and Democratic leaders gave the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission divergent opinions of their work Wednesday, with Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs saying the panel should start over and begin drawing draft maps anew.

Biggs, a Gilbert Republican, said the commission ignored crucial constitutional criteria in drawing the state's proposed congressional and legislative boundaries. Among other things, he said the panel erred by overemphasizing competitiveness, to the detriment of compactness and communities of interest.

"(We) would like the IRC to immediately commence a new mapping process," Biggs said.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, meanwhile, praised the citizen volunteer commission for its dedication. He said his Republican colleagues should not have interfered in its work.

"People are sick of partisan games," said Campbell, a Phoenix Democrat.

Wednesday's meeting was rather sedate, given the controversy surrounding the comission's recent work.

Last month, Senate Republicans and Gov. Jan Brewer took the unprecedented step of ousting commission chairwoman Colleen Mathis, a Tucson independent, and the panel's critical swing vote. Two Republicans and two Democrats also sit on the commission.

Mathis asked no questions of either Biggs or Campbell. She and the other commissioners hope to finalize the draft maps by Christmas and send them to the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure the new boundaries protect minority voting rights.